Longford IFC: Killashee too strong for Ballymahon to reach another county final

Intermediate Championship specialists Killashee are through to another county final following their emphatic win over Ballymahon at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday.

St Brigid’s Killashee . . . 3-17     Ballymahon . . . 2-11 

Inspired by a cracking strike from Paddy Mollaghan with just a couple of minutes gone on the clock, St Brigid’s held a commanding 1-9 to 0-3 lead at one stage of the first half but brave Ballymahon got right back into contention with a brace of goals from Joe Nevin in quick succession.

Just three points separated the sides approaching the break but Ballymahon suffered a significant double blow when their physically strong midfielder John Nevin was forced to retire injured and then a killer second goal materialised deep into stoppage time. 

A speculative shot from Ronan Kavanagh dropped short into the arms of Paddy Clancy and the defender planted the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle.

That was a shattering setback for Ballymahon who trailed by 2-10 to 2-4 going into the second half and failed to register another score until the 48th minute when their chief marksman Jack Walshe shot over the bar. 

Rampant Killashee completely dominated the third quarter in adding another 1-5 to their tally, the highlight of which was a glorious goal from the impressive Paddy Mollaghan in the 41st minute.

Mollaghan fired a rocket of a shot into the back of the net in ending up with a total of 2-4 while their other dangerman Dylan Farrell registered 0-6. 

Ronan Kavanagh, Tommy Killian (2), Johnny Casey (2), Michael Farrell (free) and James Willis also got their names on the scoresheet but St Brigid’s will be facing a much tougher task against Ardagh Moydow in the title decider on Sunday week, October 5th.

Ballymahon battled it out to the bitter end with Jack Walshe their main man with 0-8 ( 3 frees) but they were generally unable to compete with the power and pace of St Brigid’s who are unbeaten in this year’s Intermediate Championship under the driving force of Eamon Farrell, one of their own. 

ST BRIGID’S KILLASHEE: Barry Geraghty; Shane Cosgrove, Ronan Kavanagh (0-1), David Buckley; Niall McCormack, Keelan Cox, Paddy Clancy (1-0); Jack Magan, Michael Farrell (0-1, free); Dylan Farrell (0-6, 1 two-pointer), Darren Cosgrove, James Willis (0-1); Paddy Mollaghan (2-4, 1 two-pointer), Johnny Casey (0-2), Tommy Killian (0-2).

Subs:- James Campbell for S Cosgrove (47 mins); Colin Cousins for D Cosgrove (54 mins); Briain Farrell for T Killian (stoppage time); Nathan Steele for J Willis (stoppage time); Mark Rossiter for P Mollaghan (stoppage time). 

BALLYMAHON: Keith Manley; Ros Claffey, Cormac McDonagh, Ronan Burke; Chris Killian, Harvey Townsend, Luke Quinn; Kevin Diffley, John Nevin; Shane Quinn, Danny Ryan, Paddy Connaughton (0-1); Joe Nevin (2-0), Pedro Byrne, Jack Walshe (0-8, 1 two-pointer, 3 frees).

Subs:- Tadhg Ronayne for C McDonagh (24 mins); Finn Heneghan for J Nevin (injured, 30 mins); Kyle Fitzmaurice (0-1) for Joe Nevin (45 mns); Clayton Melia (0-1) for F Heneghan (49 mins). 

Referee: Ger Carberry (Killoe Emmet Og).